Improvement in carriage-tops



.tI/ENDERS. Carriage-Top.

Patnted June 27, 1865.

AM. PHOTO-LITHD, C0. Nfl. (OSBBRNE'S RUCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIYCE.

IMPROVEMENT INy CARR|AGETOPS.`

Speeitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,386, dated Juno 27, 1865. A

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn ENDERs, ot Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buggy-Tops and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, forming part of this specification, in whic Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of this invention; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

" .strain exerted by said joint will keep the' rail,

and with it the entire top, in position, and the whole strain of the top, lwhen the buggy isin motion, is thrown on the' lazy-back instead of on the rear edge of the seat, as usual.

The invention consists, also, in the employment or use of hook-catches and spring-supports, in combination with the seat, the rail,

' and the lazy-back of the shifting-top buggy in such a manner that said top can readily be attached to and detached from the seat, and the danger of a spontaneous detaching of the same is avoided.

A represents theseatof a buggy, which is supported by the axles of the wheels in the usual manner. This seat is provided with a rail, B, which supports the top C and the lazyback D. Said lazy-back restslupon two pillars, E, which rise from the rail and extend over the ends of the back, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is further supported by open rings F, which form the rear ends ot' the rear surface, of the back and are secured therep to by screws or other suitable means. The lazy-back is further steadied in its position by braces I extending from the rail up to its front side, as shown in Fig. l. l

From the rail extend two curved arms, b, in front and twoother straight arms, o, in the rear. The curved arms b form the bearin gs on which the bows G turn up or down, and the arrnso form the fulcra for the lower ends of the joints H. 1f these joints are straightened out or locked so as to support the top when' the same is raised, the strain exerted by Vsaid joints has a tendency to throw the outer ends of the arms o down. This strain is counteracted by the pillars E and open rings F, which throw the strain of the top on the lazy-back D, and consequently the rear edge of the seat is relieved from all strain of the top when the buggy is in motion. The open rings F, and also the pillars E, form springs, which allow the lazy-back to give to the motion of the top and of the buggy, and the entire seat is rendered light, compact, and strong.

The rail is secured to the seat by means of hook-catches d c, which either catch over the edges of the straps J or into loops f formed in their ends. In order toremove the top from the seat the catches e are sprung outof the loops f at the rear edge of the seat, and by a raised andlocked by the joints the strain ex` erted by said joints on the arms c of the rail has a tendency to throw said rail back, and consequently to keep the hooks d tirmly locked over the edges of the straps J. It must be remarked, however, that instead of t'li'e hooks d and catches e ordinary screws might be employed, or one or more screws might be used,

said ends might be left straight, or they might be curved in any other suitable manner.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. The pillars E and open rings F, or their equivalents, formed by the rear ends of the rail B, in combination with braces I, lazy-back D, and top C, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. 'Ihe hooks d and catches e, in combination with the rail B and straps J secured to the seat A,substanti ally asaiid for thepurpose specied.

JOSEPH ENDERS.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, v C. L. TOPLIFF. 

